On Wednesday the English players who will come to Russia for the World Cup had been announced.
The English head coach, G. Southgate, made choices and are in the continuity of the replacement of the English team. He decided to trust in younger player. With an average of only 19 selections by player, the English squad which will go in Russia will be the more in inexperienced since the World Cup of 1962.
This replacement of younger player is due to disastrous results during the last international competitions: elimination by Island during the last Euro and elimination during the first round of the last World Cup in Brazil by finishing 4th of the group with only 1 point.
Since his nomination on September 2016, G. Southgate believes in the strength of the younger English players. During the qualification of the World Cup, he already convoked build his group with young players framed by more experienced players. It worked and The Three Lions finished 1st of their group with 8 victories, 2 draw games and 0 defeat.
“I think this is a team we can rejoice in"said Southgate. "It's a young group, but with some very important older players, so I think the balance of the team is good, both in terms of experience, character and balance of positions. We have a lot of energy and physical abilities in the team, but the players are just as comfortable in possession and I think people have been able to see the style of play that we have sought to develop" added the English technician.
Obviously, some formers English players had to pay tribute to this renewed success. Good bye the goalkeeper J. Hart, J. Milner C. Smalling, D. Sturridge, J. Wislhere and A. Lallana (the last one is reservist in case of injuries) and hello to the new generation.
The fully English squad will be the following:
* Goalkeepers: J. Butland, J. Pickford, N. Pope.
* Defenders: K. Walker, J. Stones, H. Maguire, K. Trippier, D. Rose, A. Young, P. Jones, G. Cahill, T. Alexander-Arnold.
* Midfielders: E. Dier, D. Alli, J. Lingard, J. Henderson, R. Loftus-Cheek, F. Delph.
* Strikers: J. Vardy, M. Rashford, R. Sterling, H. Kane, D. Welbeck.
* Reservists in case of injuries: T. Heaton, J. Tarkowski, A. Lallana, L. Cook, J. Livermore.